Summary: A challenge to all Christians to submit themselves to doing the menial jobs.

1Sa 17:12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.

13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.

15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;

18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

“Take their pledge” – was to bring back a token of their welfare, their health. Namely, to report how they were doing in battle.

INTRODUCTION: David was the youngest son of Jesse. He had eight sons totaled. David was just a teenager at this time. No one would have ever suspected the mission of which David would someday be called to fill – the King of Israel. He had already been anointed king back in chapter 16. The anointing gave him the position, but did not provide the qualification. There were a few things David had to do before he would be king material. He had to prove himself. The basis of proof is not man made, but made of and for God. God already knows what a person will do. He knows whether that person will be qualified to fulfill any certain calling. He wants the individual to go through each step of proof to himself.

I. HE PROVED HIMSELF AT HOME FIRST.

Let me give you three thought about this:

A. He Was Obedient To His Father. The father was concerned about the welfare of the other three sons who were in battle. Normally a battle such as was taking place was not of long duration, but just a few days. The members of the army were usually voluntary. Thus Jesse’s sons themselves were part of Saul’s army.

Jesse wanted David to go and take food to his three sons, David’s older brothers. The younger son is helping care for the older. You would almost have to think that God is putting David in a position for some experience that will be needed in years to come. It is not a normal responsibility for the younger to care for the older; but the opposite.

B. He Was Thorough In His Plans.

1. He left the sheep in the care of another Vs. 20. (1 Sam 17:20 KJV) "And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper,…..” David had to find someone that he could trust to take care of the sheep in his absence. The sheep was his responsibility and he was not going to leave them unattended.

How many teens would have seen to the welfare of the sheep before leaving? That doesn’t sound much like the actions of a teen from today’s society.